Report: Egypt fears Israel's nuclear weapons

Friday, 13 July 2001 10:11 (ET)

CAIRO, Egypt, July 13 (UPI) -- A state-run Egyptian daily said Friday that
the large stockpile of Israeli nuclear weapons posed a direct threat to its
Arab neighbors and other Muslim countries.

Referring to a recent report by the German Institute for Strategic Affairs
and Armaments on Israeli nuclear arms, the Egyptian Gazette urged the
international community to help avoid a nuclear disaster in the Middle East.

The Institute said that Israel has up to 200 nuclear weapons and the means
to launch them. Israel also has acquired 50 long-range and 52 short-range
missiles, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the German report said.

Commenting on the report, the Egyptian newspaper said, "All Arab countries
and Iran and Pakistan lie within the reach of Israeli nuclear warheads."

Describing the information as "frightening" for the Arabs and the Muslims,
the newspaper warned the world "not to take the Israeli nuclear threat
lightly."

It said the Israeli leaders have never hesitated in using whatever weapons
they possessed against the Arabs.

"They have no code of ethics. It would not be surprising" if an Israeli
leader "one day actually uses this stockpile of nuclear weapons," against
the Arabs and the Muslims, the Gazette said.

The world must rise from its slumber" and prevent a nuclear disaster in
the region, the newspaper warned.
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